Agreements Between Agencies with Related Regulatory Responsibilities

This project will examine in greater detail how agencies use, develop, manage, and disclose memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that involve the exercise of regulatory authority (for example through licensing and permitting, ratemaking, the granting of waivers and exemptions from regulatory requirements, and the investigation and prosecution of regulatory entities). Among other relevant topics, the project will address the goals that agencies seek to achieve through MOUs; the processes for initiating, negotiating, drafting, and structuring MOUs; how agencies implement and resolve conflicts that may arise under MOUs; the practices for monitoring the performance of MOUs; and the standards for making MOUs publicly available.